By Smith Beck & Beck, the 12¾in wide, 18¼in high, (32 x 46cm) walnut cabinet had a removable front panel revealing pigeonholes for slides and surmounted by a brass viewer with lift-off cover.
Complete with 260 card-mounted slides and ten glass slides of British and Continental topography, street scenes and lunar views, and with the original instruction manual, it was estimated at £800-1000.
At the auction on April 27, a bidding war between a number of telephone and online bidders saw it finally sell online to a New Jersey bidder at £6900.
Another good seller was an 87oz, Sheffield 1927 silver Freedom Box with an illuminated scroll admitting Alderman Albert Aizelewood as an Honorary Freeman to the County Borough of Rotherham that year. Although typically great quality, these are not always the easiest lots to sell but, estimated at £1400-1800 the 15½in (39cm) wide box sold at £3100 to the trade against some interest from Rotherham.
Bracket Clock
Also going well over estimate was a late 18th/early 19th century boulle work bracket clock inscribed to the circular brass dial and to the brass eight-day, two-train movement, Gudin à Paris. The boulle waisted case with gilt-metal mounts was surmounted by a classical-style seated female figure, giving an overall height of 2ft 8¾in (83cm).
Offered with a matching wall bracket, it was temptingly estimated at £700-1000 as it needed some restoration but sold over the phone at £3600.
The buyer's premium was 15%
